Category: Hunting

Hunting

Germany: Free fire until there is no wolf left!

Despite EU-wide official protection status, wolves have to fear for their lives in many countries. How could Germany be missing from the list?

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To protect sheep and other farm animals, wolves will be easier to shoot in the future. This is provided for in a grand coalition bill that the federal government passed after a long dispute.

According to the plan by Environment Minister Svenja Schulze, it should also be possible to launch it in the future if it is unclear which wolf attacked a flock of sheep, for example. It should be possible to shoot wolves in the area until there are no more attacks – even if an entire pack is killed. However, the state authorities have to approve each shot individually. In addition, hunters should be regularly involved in advance.

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The wolf enjoys a high level of protection through international and national regulations. The EU’s central nature conservation law is the Fauna-Flora-Habitats Directive, or FFH for short.
The focus is on the species and habitats listed in various appendices.
For the wolf, this means not only a basic prohibition of killing, but also more extensive prohibitions of disruption.

In Germany, the requirements are implemented via the Federal Nature Conservation Act. Wolves are strictly protected throughout Germany. In the event of violations, the public prosecutor’s office takes action. Depending on the offense, fines of up to five years’ imprisonment or high fines are possible – but they are almost never imposed.

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“No understanding of wolf romance”

After the wolf was considered extinct in Germany, it has spread more strongly again in recent years. According to the Federal Agency for Nature Conservation, between 275 and 300 adult animals currently live in Germany. The increased attacks by protected wolves on sheep and other livestock have long caused heated discussions between farmers and conservationists.

639 Wolf attacks, 2067 animals were torn nationwide last year (!!!), said christian democratic union (CDU) MP Hermann Färber. Most of them are sheep or goats.

In total, around 1.6 million sheep are kept in Germany.

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“The protection of the wolf is also important to us. But it must have limits,” said Union faction vice president Gitta Connemann of the news agency dpa.
“In densely populated and economically used areas, conflict-free living with the wolf is not possible. For good reason nobody has understanding for wolf romance there”!

Cracks now threatened livelihoods, shepherds would have to give up (!!!)

https://www.tagesschau.de/inland/woelfe-abschuss-101.html

 

My comment: The problem with German politicians is not only that they are outrageous agricultural lobbies, but that they want to sell us all for stupid.

Speaking of “problem wolf”: So if a wolf eats a certain number of sheep to survive, is it a “problem”?
Then how do we define people who, for sheer pleasure, first torture millions of animals in animal factories to brutally kill and eat them? And as I said, even optional!

Furthermore, the entire discussion is hypocritical and systematically initiated by the hunters. There is a competitive situation for hunters and wolves. Around 1,300 wolves currently live in Germany.
According to the German Hunting Association, 840,000 people have a hunting license. Everyone wants to keep it and enjoy their roast game. Where’s the wolf’s livelihood?

Of course, then he has to fall back on the grazing animals.

Human being, as a rationally reflecting individual can assess the consequences of his actions (killing). The wolf can’t do that. So I don’t know why these animals should be killed because they kill animals.

But the reason is somewhere else: there are countless politicians with a hunting license or they are happy to be invited to hunt. Then it goes without saying that this shameful, underhanded and fundamentally illegal law is approved drawn beforehand.

Hunters and Peasants: Be honest at least once: you take care of your meat and if an animal competitor defends your economic interests, of course it must be eliminated.

And then the life of other creatures just has no value for you. Both that of the sheep and that of the wolf.

lämmer in kontainer_nWhen farmers say: we love our animals…

 

My best regards to all, Venus

Hunting

Germany: a “Kamikaze” pigeon and a disabled authority

 

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Striking official failure in Steinfurt, in the district (North Rhine-Westphalia), a dying peregrine falcon was found on Wednesday – he had just captured a color-coded domestic pigeon.

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The find circumstances clearly indicate a so-called “Kamikaze pigeon” – a living pigeon is prepared with a contact poison. The color is intended to draw the birds of prey’s attention to the pigeon.

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Falcon and alleged bait were handed over to the police in Rheine.

But instead of properly handing over the evidence to the responsible veterinary inspection office, it was simply thrown away in the garbage can.

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The police rely on the district veterinary office, which is said to have said that there were no known cases of raptor persecution in Steinfurt.
But that’s not true! because this district, with a total of 45 cases since 2005, is one of the regions in Central Europe most affected by this form of environmental crime.

The Lower Nature Conservation Authority of Steinfurt has also made a fool of itself – despite requests from the committee, they had refused to contact the police and urge the animals to be examined.

The committee against the bird murder is currently having a lawyer check to what extent the officials involved have abused their office.

https://www.facebook.com/Komitee.CABS/

 

And I mean…They all agree on corruption, ignorance and abuse of their powers.

A disgusting, corrupt, perpetrator-friendly gang = the German authority.

And straw stupid! so stupid that they should have got the job only through relationships and favors.
Police officers, veterinary officers, criminal police rabble … all stupid like a banana.

These are the instances that are supposed to protect our animals and us from criminals.

My best regards to all, Venus

Environmental, General News, Hunting

Scotland / Norway: Rich Trophy Hunters Can Go To Norway and Shoot Rudolph At Christmas In A ‘Magical Experience’ !

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Rich trophy hunters pay to shoot reindeer in wild – say it’s ‘magical’ experience

 

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Rich trophy hunters are paying to shoot reindeer in the wild.

Brits are being offered the chance to join a trip where they can stalk and kill real-life Rudolphs in a national park.

The animals being targeted by trophy hunters belong to the last surviving population of wild reindeer in Europe and roam in two of Norway’s largest national parks.

The shooting trips are being run by Hendry, Ramsay and Waters, which describes itself as “Scotland’s Premier Sporting Agency”.

On its website is a photo of two men pictured next to the carcass of a large reindeer.

 

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The agency boasts: “We have full exclusivity in both the Brehei-men and Jotunhei-men national parks, which hold Europe’s last-surviving population of wild reindeer, which have been hunted here since the Ice Age.

“The Jotunheimen national park reopens this year after being closed to all hunting for the past eight years, so this untouched territory will really be worth a visit.”

But Nick Weston, from the League Against Cruel Sports, said: “It’s hardly in the spirit of Christmas to shoot Rudolph, is it?

“There is no justification for shooting animals for fun at any time of the year, but to celebrate Christmas by killing Santa’s reindeer doesn’t really keep with the season of goodwill.

“When will we learn that animals are not commodities and give them the gift of life instead of needlessly
killing them?”

Source – https://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest-news/sick-trophy-hunters-paying-shoot-21097893?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sharebar

 

And what does Santa think of this ?

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Environmental, General News, Hunting

USA: Massachusetts outlaws destructive wildlife killing contests.

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For Immediate Release: December 18, 2019

Massachusetts outlaws destructive
wildlife killing contests

Regulation abolishes competitive killing of wild animals for prizes and entertainment

Boston, MA – A coalition of leading wildlife protection organizations is applauding MassWildlife staff and the Massachusetts Fisheries and Wildlife Board for their vote today to ban wildlife killing contests in the Commonwealth.

The vote will bring an end to events like the ones recently held on Cape Cod and in Granby, in which participants competed to kill the largest, smallest, or the greatest number of animals for cash and prizes. Winners of wildlife killing contests often proudly post photos and videos on social media that show them posing with piles of dead animals, often before disposing of the animals in “carcass dumps” away from the public eye. When proposing this ban in July 2019, the Massachusetts Division of Fisheries and Wildlife noted growing outrage in Massachusetts about these cruel and unethical contests.

“Upon learning about these unsporting contests, Massachusetts citizens made it clear that they would not tolerate these killing competitions in their state, contacting MassWildlife by the hundreds to voice their opposition,” said Elizabeth Magner, Ph.D., animal advocacy specialist for the Massachusetts Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (MSPCA). “The MSPCA is grateful that MassWildlife staff and the Fisheries and Wildlife Board treated this matter with the seriousness that it warrants, and for positioning Massachusetts as a national leader on this issue.”

“Wildlife killing contests are a bloodsport just like dogfighting and cockfighting, which have been outlawed nationwide” said Katie Stennes, programs and communications manager for Project Coyote. “We commend the Massachusetts Fisheries and Wildlife Board for relegating these ecologically and ethically indefensible events to the history books.”

“Wild animals play an important role in their ecosystem and our environment,” said Stephanie Harris, senior legislative affairs manager for the Animal Legal Defense Fund. “The forward-thinking, science-based regulations adopted by MassWildlife and the Fisheries and Wildlife Board to prohibit senseless killing contests and wanton waste are among the nation’s strongest.

“Participants of wildlife killing contests often use unsporting and cruel techniques –  such as calling devices that mimic the sound of prey or even pups in distress – so that they can lure shy coyotes and foxes to shoot at close range,” said Laura Hagen, Massachusetts state director for the Humane Society of the United States. “We thank MassWildlife for taking decisive action to ensure that the Commonwealth no longer supports such barbaric and wasteful killing of its treasured wildlife.”

Wildlife agencies and professionals across the country have expressed concerns about killing contests not only because they reflect badly on responsible sportsmen and sportswomen, but because they also contravene modern, science-based wildlife management principles. In 2018, more than 70 renowned conservation scientists issued a statement citing peer-reviewed science that refutes claims that indiscriminately killing coyotes permanently limits coyote populations, increases the number of deer or other game species for hunters, or reduces conflicts with humans, pets or livestock. In fact, by disrupting coyote pack structure, randomly shooting coyotes may increase their populations and lead to more conflicts. Nonlethal, preventive measures are most effective at reducing conflicts with wildlife.

Wildlife killing contests are also destructive to healthy ecosystems, within which all wildlife species play a crucial role. Coyotes and foxes in particular provide a range of ecosystem benefits, including controlling rabbit and rodent populations and restricting rodent- and tick-borne disease transmission.

In just the past five years, California, Vermont, New Mexico and Arizona have taken a stand against cruel, unsporting and wasteful wildlife killing contests. California banned the awarding of prizes for killing furbearing and nongame mammals in 2014; New Mexico and Vermont outlawed coyote killing contests in 2019 and 2018, respectively; and Arizona prohibited the events for predatory and furbearing species this year.

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Founded in 1954, the Humane Society of the United States and its affiliates around the globe fight the big fights to end suffering for all animals. Together with millions of supporters, the HSUS takes on puppy mills, factory farms, trophy hunts, animal testing and other cruel industries, and together with its affiliates, rescues and provides direct care for over 100,000 animals every year. The HSUS works on reforming corporate policy, improving and enforcing laws and elevating public awareness on animal issues. More at humanesociety.org.

Project Coyote, a national non-profit organization, is a North American coalition of scientists, educators, ranchers, and citizen leaders promoting compassionate conservation and coexistence between people and wildlife through education, science and advocacy. Visit ProjectCoyote.org for more information.


About the Animal Legal Defense Fund – Forty years of fighting for animals: The Animal Legal Defense Fund was founded in 1979 to protect the lives and advance the interests of animals through the legal system. To accomplish this mission, the Animal Legal Defense Fund files high-impact lawsuits to protect animals from harm; provides free legal assistance and training to prosecutors to assure that animal abusers are punished for their crimes; supports tough animal protection legislation and fights harmful legislation; and provides resources and opportunities to law students and professionals to advance the emerging field of animal law. For more information, please visit aldf.org.

The mission of the MSPCA-Angell is to protect animals, relieve their suffering, advance their health and welfare, prevent cruelty, and work for a just and compassionate society. Founded in 1868, the MSPCA-Angell is the second-oldest humane society in the United States. The organization’s public policy work is essential to bringing about long-term change for animals, with the MSPCA working locally and nationally to improve animal protection laws and regulations. This work is sustained through volunteer Animal Action Team members, who engage in advocacy both in their municipalities and on the state level to improve the lives of animals.

 

Learn more at mspca.org

 

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Farm Animals, General News, Hunting, Live Transport

UK Election 12/12/19: Hopefully Good News for Animals.

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The UK had a General Election this week on 12/12/19. In reality, it was really more like a contest to see who would be successful in the battle to either remain in, or to leave the EU. The British public voted in 2016 to leave the EU, but this has always been blocked and contested by some political parties in the UK Parliament. 12/12 was a decisive day to see what the people thought after 3 years of debates, arguments and general troubles in the Parliament.

 

We watched with interest on the night of 12th; polling stations closed at 2200hrs. By the morning it was very clear that the real opinion was for the UK to leave the EU and instead take up other international trade deals around the world; which were prevented by being a member state of the EU. Trade deal negotiations are always done by the EU when it comes to member states; they are not allowed to go off and do their own thing. This is what annoys a lot of British people; that the EU does the deals on their behalf, and they then have to put up with the result. People wanted out, as the 2016 ‘In / Out’ referendum showed by its result.

 

Some political parties fought the election on a ‘remain in’ approach; others fought in a ‘get Brexit done’ approach. By the morning of 13/12 it was clear what the majority thought – ‘get Brexit done’ had made huge winnings in the form of the Conservative Party led by Prime Minister Boris Johnson. The Labour Party, led by Jeremy Corbyn on an attitude of getting another deal done and then putting it back to the people (again) – a 2nd referendum; were tranced in the election; losing dozens of seats in what had always been Labour heartlands.

 

The Liberal Democrat Party; fighting on a ‘stay in the EU’ approach, were very heavily defeated. Both the Party leader (Jo Swinson) and their Brexit spokesperson, one Tom Brake MP; lost their seats in the election. They had hoped for massive gains at the election to remain as members of the EU; but the voters thought otherwise. They were trounced.

 

So, now, with a majority of some 75 Members of Parliament the Conservatives are rapidly moving ahead to get out of the EU by the end of January 2020. https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-48256318

 

By leaving the EU, the UK will be able to take back control of its own policies and future destiny. UK law will be decided on and made in the UK rather than in the EU; which would apply to all member states.

 

As animal advocates; we are very much hoping that by leaving the EU, the UK will be able to make its own legislation for improvements in animal welfare. One issue that has been very important to us is the live transport of animals. Under EU law the UK is NOT allowed to ban live animal exports; a rule which applies to all other member states. By leaving the EU, the UK government will be free to introduce its own legislation which would allow live animal exports to be banned. Campaigning by many UK animal welfare organisations over many years has sent a clear message to the UK government; and we are confident that UK action for a ban will start very soon.

 

The UK has some good animal welfare policy, but that does not mean that it cannot be improved on. Free from the EU legislation; the UK will be able to make even higher standards for farm animal welfare than those which are laid out under EU regulations; many of which are not adhered to by some EU member states anyway. Why does the EU not take action about this ? – don’t ask us; it probably cannot be bothered in reality. They are, in their opinion, only animals after all.

 

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Carrie Symonds is the partner of Prime Minister Boris. She is a very keen animal welfare activist and we think is behind his approach in government to improving animal welfare standards. Good news for welfare as it can do nothing but good from our national situation.

Above and below – Carrie protests against Taiji and whaling.

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Regards Mark

 

 

Environmental, General News, Hunting

France: Petition – SIGN: Stop Torturing Songbirds with Cruel Glue Traps.

Flag of France, hand drawn watercolor illustration

 

 

SIGN: Stop Torturing Songbirds with Cruel Glue Traps

Image Credit: LPO

SIGN: Stop Torturing Songbirds with Cruel Glue Traps

Posted by Katie Valentine | December 10, 2019

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Please Sign Now !

Petition Link – https://ladyfreethinker.org/sign-stop-torturing-songbirds-with-cruel-glue-traps/?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=Email

 

 

Wording –

 

PETITION TARGET: Ambassador of France to the U.S. Philippe Etienne

Every year, tens of thousands of birds are victimized in southeastern France by a cruel hunting method called glue-trapping, which involves attracting songbirds to branches covered in glue in order to cage the birds to sell as “pets.” As birds try desperately to free themselves, they become increasingly stuck, resulting in a painful, prolonged struggle that can lead to injury or even death.

After this initial stage of torture, hunters spray birds with toxic chemicals and separate them from the glue, often causing further injury and fatal consequences, including feather loss, which can render birds unable to fly. Birds who are deemed “undesirable” are carelessly tossed aside and left to suffer with any untreated injuries they may have. The rest are exploited for profit, sold into a lifetime of misery in captivity or used as bait in future glue-trapping hunts after spending unnatural periods of time — sometimes months — in pitch darkness. This causes them to sing frantically once they see daylight, unknowingly luring other birds toward the traps.

A warning from the EU, which banned glue-trapping decades ago, and numerous court cases calling on French officials to outlaw the practice, have fallen on deaf ears. In addition to the needless suffering glue-trapping causes to birds, the perpetuation of this government-sanctioned cruelty puts steeply-declining bird populations, including endangered species, further in jeopardy.

Speak out against these barbaric glue traps that torture and kill helpless birds. Sign this petition urging the French Ambassador to do everything in his power to push for a nationwide ban on this disturbing and outdated practice.

Environmental, General News, Hunting

Mongolia: Donald Trump Jr killed rare endangered sheep in Mongolia with special permit.

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Donald Trump Jr killed rare endangered sheep in Mongolia with special permit

  • Permit issued after meeting with country’s president
  • Argali sheep considered national treasure in Mongolia
  • On a hunting trip to Mongolia earlier this summer the US president’s son Donald Trump Jr killed a rare species of endangered sheep. A permit for the killing was retroactively issued after Trump met with the country’s president, according to new reporting from ProPublica.
  • Trump was accompanied by security from both the US and Mongolia on the trip, the outlet reported. The argali sheep, with its large horns, is considered a national treasure there, and permission to kill one is “controlled by an opaque permitting system that experts say is mostly based on money, connections and politics”.

In between the killing and the issuing of the permit the month after he left the country, Trump is said to have met with the president, Khaltmaagiin Battulga, suggesting the possibility of special consideration being given to the son of the US president.

  • “Trump Jr shot his argali at night, using a rifle with a laser sight, the guides said,” according to ProPublica. “He stopped the local hunting guides from dismembering it at the kill site, instead instructing them to use an aluminum sheet to carry the carcass so as not to damage the fur and horns, said Khuandyg Akhbas, 50, one of the guides. He also killed a red deer, which similarly required a permit.
  • The legality of the importation of big game trophies into the United States has been, like many other issues in the Trump administration, confusing and ever-changing. The president himself has spoken out against the practice, calling such hunting practices a “horror show” despite his two sons being avid trophy hunters.
  • In order to import trophies of animals on the endangered species list, a US hunter must show that its killing would be beneficial overall to the species at large. In 2017, the Trump administration pushed back against such restrictions on trophy hunting from the Obama era before reinstating the ban. A court ruling found thereafter it was done improperly, allowing imports to continue.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2019/dec/11/donald-trump-jr-mongolia-rare-endangered-sheep-permit

 

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Farm Animals, Fur and Fur Farming, General News, Hunting, Live Transport, Stray Animals

Today, 10/12/19 is ‘International Animal Rights Day’.
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Today, 10/12/19 is International Animal Rights Day.

The annual International Animal Rights Day (IARD) – 10th December – aims to remember the animal victims of human tyranny and call for the recognition of our Universal Declaration of Animal Rights (UDAR). The goal of this historic campaign is to build on the recognition of human rights, and persuade humanity that kindness and respect is due to all sentient creatures.

Thousands of animal rights supporters across the world hold candlelit vigils and other inspiring events to mark the 13th annual IARD. Ethical pioneers united to remember the billions of animals subjected to deliberate cruelty and killing across the world every year. This coordinated global day of action has intensified calls for the recognition of the rights of all sentient beings to life, liberty and natural enjoyment.

 

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To find out a lot more from many organisations; simply Google ‘International Animal Rights Day’ on your computer.  There are too many links to repeat it all here.

 

Regards Mark.

 

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Image result for international animal rights day
Image result for international animal rights day

 

Environmental, General News, Hunting

Indonesia: Critically Endangered Sumatran Elephants Head Hacked Off By Tusk Poachers. Sign Petition for Action and Justice.

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SIGN: Justice for Sumatran Elephant Brutally Decapitated, Tusks Hacked Off By Poachers

Posted by Ashley Locke | December 5, 2019

 

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Petition Link:

https://ladyfreethinker.org/sign-justice-for-sumatran-elephant-brutally-decapitated-tusks-hacked-off-by-poachers/?utm_source=Newsletter&utm_medium=Email

 

SIGN: Justice for Sumatran Elephant Brutally Decapitated, Tusks Hacked Off By Poachers

 

Poachers left the corpse of a 40-year-old Sumatran elephant to rot on an Indonesian plantation after hacking off the majestic animal’s head.

“The elephant’s head had been cut off and its severed trunk was found a metre away from the body,” said Suharyono, head of a local conservation agency, in a statement. “We suspect the elephant was hunted and killed, and then its head was cut off to remove the tusks.”

The Sumatran elephant is listed as “critically endangered.” According to the World Wildlife Fund, “nearly 70 percent of [their] habitat has been destroyed in one generation.”

Poaching has also skewed the breeding rates for these magnificent creatures, making it even more difficult for the species to survive.

Asian Species Expert Dr. Barney Long notes, “we could possibly see the Sumatran elephant be restricted to just a few remote populations within our lifetimes.”

Sign this petition today to urge the Indonesian government to do everything in their power to bring these poachers to justice, and work to protect the remaining animals. The Sumatran elephants must be protected before all hope is lost.